Nation of Language

Sub Pop is the new home for Nation of Language – the Brooklyn, NY-based trio composed of Ian Richard Devaney (lead vocals, guitar), Aidan Noell (synthesizer), and Alex MacKay (bass guitar) – and will release their new music worldwide in 2025 and beyond. The group shared the dioramic official video for the ebullient new single “Inept Apollo,” directed by John MacKay. The song is available now on all streaming services worldwide from Sub Pop.

Devaney offers this on the “Inept Apollo” song and video: 

“Work is a respite from pain. Whether it’s a paying job or just the thing you pour yourself into, having a direction to move in, finding a flow state, it can move focus away from the heaviness of the heart. So after life’s losses, in moments of despair, we resolve time and time again to dive headfirst into the work as best we can. But the artistic process also tends to be when imposter syndrome rears its ugly head - when I find my inner monologue spiraling: ‘this is the best coping mechanism I have at my disposal and I’m not even qualified to be doing it.’

“Accompanying the song is a killer music video by our friend and brother John MacKay: it is an homage to creative pursuits, and in some ways came to represent the feeling of living in a city as an artist. The video feels like walking through an old warehouse in Brooklyn, full of practice spaces and studios, each room occupied by artists striving to express and understand themselves and their place in the world. No matter how bizarre the act may seem or how much self-doubt or pain runs through the mind of the creator, the beautiful thing is the striving and continuing on, rather than the final product or any notion of “success.” The power of creation belongs to all of us; requires the approval of none.”

Nation of Language has attracted a rapidly growing and devout international audience via their danceable and impassioned take on new wave, post-punk, and shoegaze. They’ve released three albums, including Introduction, Presence (2020), A Way Forward (2021), and Strange Disciple (2023). They’ve seen coverage from Billboard, The New York Times, Document Journal, Brooklyn Vegan, MOJO, NME, Pitchfork, Stereogum, and have performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.  

Nation of Language’s most recent release, Strange Disciple and its singles appeared on multiple “Best of 2023” lists, earning “Album of the Year” from UK retailer Rough Trade and coming in at #2 on KEXP’s annual listeners’ list. Recently, “Weak In Your Light” was featured in the series finale of the Netflix hit You.

Nation of Language has become a favorite on the international festival circuit, winning over crowds at festivals like Austin City Limits Festival, Desert Daze, Pitchfork Festival, Primavera Sound, Pukkelpop, Corona Capital, Outside Lands, and Bonnaroo, among many others.

Nation of Language has scheduled a 50-date international headlining and festival run in North America, the EU, and the UK for the summer and fall of 2025.